Interview with John Beauchamp

British airframe fitter served with Royal Air Force at RAF Gatow, Berlin during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949; served with Royal Air Force in Federation of Malaya and South Korea, 1949-1953; various postings with Royal Air Force in GB and Middle East, 1953-1985

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1930-1947: family; reasons for enlistment in Royal Air Force, 1947; period as fireman during Second World War. Aspects of enlistment and training as airframe fitter with Royal Air Force in GB, 1947: enlistment in Royal Air Force, 1947; overview of career; training as airframe mechanic on Douglas Dakota aircraft at RAF Lyneham. Recollections of period as airframe mechanic with Royal Air Force at RAF Gatow, Berlin during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949: posting to RAF Gatow, 10/1948; atmosphere at RAF Gatow; role as airframe mechanic; intensity of activity; organisation of 'air bridges'; importance of aircraft maintenance; sympathy for German children; memories of devastation of Berlin and its population; working hours; problems with poor weather; importance of keeping aircraft clean; variety of aircraft used in Berlin Airlift; lack of organised discipline; relations with air crews; communicating with Germans; duties; nature of well stocked mess at RAF Gatow; feeding German children at RAF Gatow; physical state on leaving Germany. Aspects of period as airframe fitter with Royal Air Force in Federation of Malaya and South Korea, 1949-1952: servicing aircraft at RAF Seletar, Federation of Malaya; journey to Pusan, South Korea via Hong Kong and Japan. REEL 2 Continues: period aboard HMS Ocean; adapting to naval life; servicing aircraft aboard aircraft carrier; posting as aircraft fitter to 1913 Light Liaison Flight, RAF in South Korea; flying as observer on artillery spotting; continuous movement up to and back from 38th Parallel on Korean Peninsula; brief period serving in British Borneo; return aboard HMT Empire Pride to GB, 1952; duties as observer during Korean War; life in South Korea; witnessing advance of Chinese People's Volunteer Army troops; generosity of American service personnel; nature of Malayan National Liberation Army insurgency in Federation of Malaya; guarding ammunition trains in Federation of Malaya; servicing Supermarine Spitfires of 60 Sqdn at Kuala Lumpur, Federation of Malaya; air testing De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito at RAF Seletar, Federation of Malaya. Aspects of various postings with RAF in GB and Middle East, 1953-1985: period with No 16 Maintenance Unit, RAF at RAF Stafford; servicing 300 bicycles; 15 years service at RAF Lyneham with Transport Command; posting to 208 Sqdn, RAF in Aden, Federation of South Arabia; nature of operations against insurgents in Radfan, Federation of South Arabia; service with 208 Sqdn, RAF at Muharraq, Bahrain; receiving gold watch from ruler of Bahrain; adapting to weather in Bahrain; successful service of De Havilland Comet in Bahrain. REEL 3 Continues: flying orphaned children out of Belgian Congo; food relief in Pakistan; changing fuel tanks at Gan Island; servicing aircraft throughout the world; servicing Avro Lancaster of Battle of Britain Flight and Avro Vulcans at RAF St Athan; witnessing atom bomb tests at Christmas Island; description of atomic bomb explosion; servicing Vickers VC10s at RAF Brize Norton; meeting Very Important Persons (VIPs) during period at RAF Brize Norton; security operations for visit of President Ronald Reagan, 1984; receiving gold cufflinks from President Ronald Reagan; servicing Prince Charles and Princess Diana's honeymoon flight; meeting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.